In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

The nights of famously extravagant parades began with a burst of fireworks and to the cheers of festival goers who have been partying on the streets for days. The processions, featuring dancing queens, spectacularly imaginative floats and thousands of extras, were being held before a stadium crowd of 70,000.

Image: Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participate in the annual carnival paradePhotographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

A month after a fire destroyed many of the lavish costumes of a samba group, it became clear the 2011 Carnival would be marked more than ever by the festival's quintessential ability to bring hope and happiness.

Image: Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participate in the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's SambadromePhotographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

The bottom placing two schools can't participate in the following year's competition, it is of cultural significance that each school receives enough points based on music, timing, and visual appearance.

Image: Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participate in the annual Carnival parade in RioPhotographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

Nearly 800,000 tourists, Brazilian and foreign, were taking part in the extravaganza alongside most of Rio's population of 6 million, turning the place into bohemian sprawl buoyed by high-decibel samba music.

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

The Carnival is rooted in ancient Roman and Greek culture, when a celebration would be held to mark the coming of spring. For some groups, Carnival is much more than a symbol of culture; it is an expression of freedom.

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

Each area of Brazil has a slightly different means of celebrating. Though unsaid, there is always a competition as to which city parties hardest. This originated in the 18 century, and the organised competitions are one of the most appealing parts of Carnival, even today.

Image: A reveller of the Vila Isabel samba school participates in the annual Carnival paradePhotographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

The colorful procession by the Unidos de Tijuca samba school wowed a crowd of 70,000 packed into Rio's Sambodrome stadium from late Sunday. It was one of six shows put on in an all-night climax to Rio's Carnival partying.

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

Unidos de Tijuco is the reigning parade champion, having carried off last year's event with a pastiche of stage delights, including Batman on skis and a Michael Jackson impersonator dancing on a float inhabited by aliens. This year, the school was looking to outdo itself with its long bow to US blockbusters.

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

The celebration of Carnival was brought over to Rio de Janeiro by the Portuguese around 1850, and since then, Brazilians have adopted traditions that encompassed different periods of time and different cultures, spanning from African to Indo-American.

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho dances with members of the Portela samba school during the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome.During his performance he stopped to say hello to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen and give her American football player husband, Tom Brady, an awkwardly long handshake.

In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets

For the majority of those taking part in Rio's Carnival, though, the attention was on fun, leaving behind the grime and grind of ordinary living for a five-day frenzy of drinking, kissing, dancing and beach-going.

Image: Revellers of the Portela samba school participate in the annual Carnival paradePhotographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters